Devices, systems and methods for controlling permitted settings on a vehicle

ABSTRACT

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for altering permitted settings of a vehicle according to a driver identified through short range wireless communication. The vehicle captures a unique identifier from a wireless communication device of the driver of the vehicle. This unique identifier is used to reference a database to determine the identity of the driver as well as settings for the driver created by a controlling authority. The controlling authority may be, for instance, a parent or employer of the driver. The settings may limit certain devices within the vehicle and/or the vehicle itself. Speed control settings, radio settings, wireless communication device settings, and various other settings are all possible to limit distractions to the driver. Further, the settings may be influenced by the number or identities of passengers within the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/632,375, filed Dec. 7, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No.8,706,349, the entire contents of which is incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to vehicle driver identification. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to altering permittedsettings of a vehicle based upon a driver.

Background of the Invention

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the UnitedStates, with accidents while driving causing 36% of all deaths in thisage group. The risk of a crash is much higher during the first years ateenager is able to drive. Teenage drivers tend to underestimatehazardous driving situations and are less able than more experienceddrivers to recognize dangerous situations.

Along with their lack of mature driving habits, teenagers often createmany distractions while driving. Listening to loud music may prevent ateenager from noticing an emergency vehicle or oncoming car. Having teenmale passengers in the car has been shown to increase the likelihood ofhigh risk driving behaviors among teenage male drivers. Talking on thephone while driving is estimated to increase the risk of a crashfourfold. These extra distractions cause parents to worry, and, whilevery dangerous, may be very preventable.

Present-day technology can alleviate some of these distractions.Notably, microelectronic devices are becoming more and more ubiquitous.By coupling processors, memories, and transceivers to these devices,almost any handheld object can become a wireless communication devicecapable of transmitting and receiving data over a network. It is easy toset up a personal-area network with a few such devices incorporated intovarious everyday objects. However, this functionality is currently notbeing exploited to its full level.

What is needed is a means for identifying a driver of a vehicle in orderto place restrictions or otherwise create settings for the driver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above-identified issues by alteringpermitted settings of a vehicle according to a driver identified throughshort range wireless communication. In exemplary embodiments, a smartvehicle captures a unique identifier from a wireless communicationdevice of the driver of the smart vehicle. This unique identifier isused to reference a database to determine the identity of the driver aswell as settings for the driver created by a controlling authority. Thecontrolling authority may be, for instance, a parent or employer of thedriver. The settings may limit certain devices within the smart vehicleand/or the smart vehicle itself. Speed control settings, radio settings,wireless communication device settings, and various other settings areall possible to limit distractions to the driver. Further, the settingsmay be influenced by the number or identities of passengers within thesmart vehicle.

In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention is a system forcontrolling a driver's settings, the system including a network; a smartvehicle in communication with the network; a wireless communicationdevice in communication with the smart vehicle; a settings server on thenetwork, the settings server including a user account for a user of thewireless communication device, the user account including permittedsettings for the user; a client logic on the smart vehicle to retrieve aunique identifier from the wireless communication device and transmitthe unique identifier to the settings server; and a server logic on thesettings server to associate the unique identifier with the useraccount, determine the permitted settings for the user, and transmit thepermitted settings to the client logic, wherein the client logic limitsfunctions of the smart vehicle based upon the permitted settings.

In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is a method forcontrolling a driver's settings, the method including requesting aunique identifier from a wireless communication device in communicationwith a smart vehicle; receiving the unique identifier from the wirelesscommunication device and determining an identity of a driver inpossession of the wireless communication device based upon the uniqueidentifier; referencing settings corresponding to the identity of thedriver; and implementing the settings, wherein the settings are chosenby a controlling authority and include one or more of permitted speedsettings, permitted radio settings, and permitted use of the wirelesscommunication device.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is a smartvehicle, including a vehicle; a processor coupled to the vehicle; amemory in communication with the processor; a transceiver incommunication with the processor; an antenna coupled to the transceiver;and a client logic on the memory to retrieve a unique identifier from awireless communication device, determine an identity of a user of thewireless communication device based upon the unique identifier,determine permitted settings for the user, the permitted settingscreated by a controlling authority, and implement the permittedsettings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a system for controlling a driver's settings, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a smart vehicle, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a method of controlling a driver's settings on a smartvehicle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a smart vehicle with multiple occupants, each with awireless communications device, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 shows secondary means for verifying a driver's identity,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a smart vehicle including biometric sensors, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an aftermarket smart vehicle upgrade, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a contactless smart card embedded in a driver'slicense, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a smart vehicle detecting a driver's license, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a call block notification transmitted to a wirelesscommunication device, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 shows a screenshot of the creation of settings for a driver,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description discloses devices, systems, andmethods for identifying a driver within a vehicle using short rangewireless communications in order to alter permitted settings of thevehicle. In exemplary embodiments a smart vehicle captures a uniqueidentifier from a wireless communication device of the driver of thesmart vehicle. This unique identifier is used to reference a database todetermine the identity of the driver as well as settings for the drivercreated by a controlling authority. The controlling authority may be,for instance, a parent or employer of the driver. The settings may limitcertain devices within the smart vehicle and/or the smart vehicleitself. Speed control settings, radio settings, wireless communicationdevice settings, and various other settings are all possible to limitdistractions to the driver. Further, the settings may be influenced bythe number or identities of passengers within the vehicle.

“Wireless communication device”, as used herein and throughout thisdisclosure, refers to any electronic device capable of wirelesslysending and receiving data. A wireless communication device may have aprocessor, a memory, a transceiver, an input, and an output. Examples ofsuch devices include cellular telephones, personal digital assistants(PDAs), portable computers, etc. A wireless communication device alsoincludes smart cards, such as contactless integrated circuit cards(CICC). The memory stores applications, software, or logic. Examples ofprocessors are computer processors (processing units), microprocessors,digital signal processors, controllers and microcontrollers, etc.Examples of device memories that may comprise logic include RAM (randomaccess memory), flash memories, ROMS (read-only memories), EPROMS(erasable programmable read-only memories), and EEPROMS (electricallyerasable programmable read-only memories).

“Logic” as used herein and throughout this disclosure, refers to anyinformation having the form of instruction signals and/or data that maybe applied to direct the operation of a processor. Logic may be formedfrom signals stored in a device memory. Software is one example of suchlogic. Logic may also be comprised by digital and/or analog hardwarecircuits, for example, hardware circuits comprising logical AND, OR,XOR, NAND, NOR, and other logical operations. Logic may be formed fromcombinations of software and hardware. On a network, logic may beprogrammed on a server, or a complex of servers. A particular logic unitis not limited to a single logical location on the network.

Wireless communication devices communicate with each other and withother elements via a network, for instance, a wireless network, or awireline network. A “network” can include broadband wide-area networks,local-area networks, and personal area networks. Communication across anetwork is preferably packet-based; however, radio andfrequency/amplitude modulations networks can enable communicationbetween communication devices using appropriate analog-digital-analogconverters and other elements. Examples of radio networks include WIFIand BLUETOOTH® networks, with communication being enabled by hardwareelements called “transceivers.” A CICC, for instance, has an RFIDtransceiver. Wireless communication devices may have more than onetransceiver, capable of communicating over different networks. Forexample, a cellular telephone can include a GPRS transceiver forcommunicating with a cellular base station, a WIFI transceiver forcommunicating with a WIFI network, and a BLUETOOTH® transceiver forcommunicating with a BLUETOOTH® device. A network typically includes aplurality of elements that host logic for performing tasks on thenetwork.

In modern packet-based wide-area networks, servers may be placed atseveral logical points on the network. Servers may further be incommunication with databases and can enable communication devices toaccess the contents of a database. A settings server is an example ofsuch a server. A settings server can include several network elements,including other servers, and is part of a network, for example, acellular network. A settings server hosts or is in communication with adatabase hosting an account for a user of a wireless communicationdevice. The “user account” includes several attributes for a particularuser, including a unique identifier of the wireless communicationdevice(s) owned by the user, relationships with other users, driversettings, and other information.

A “vehicle,” as used herein and throughout this disclosure, includescars, trucks, and buses, as well as aircrafts and watercrafts.

For the following description, it can be assumed that mostcorrespondingly labeled structures across the figures (e.g., 132 and232, etc.) possess the same characteristics and are subject to the samestructure and function. If there is a difference between correspondinglylabeled elements that is not pointed out, and this difference results ina non-corresponding structure or function of an element for a particularembodiment, then that conflicting description given for that particularembodiment shall govern.

FIG. 1 shows a system for controlling a driver's settings, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment,the system includes a smart vehicle 100 with a client logic 105, awireless communication device 120 with a wireless logic 122, a network140, and a settings server 130 with a server logic 132 and a database134. Smart vehicle 100 is in communication with wireless communicationdevice 120 and with settings server 130 over network 140. Wirelesscommunication device 120 is shown outside smart vehicle 100 for purposesof showing the flow of communication only. It is to be understood thatwireless communication device 120 is used by the driver of smart vehicle100. Wireless communication device 120 may be, for instance, a cellulartelephone or a contactless smart card. Smart vehicle 100 transmits arequest to wireless communication device 120, and wireless logic 122responds with a unique identifier of wireless communication device 120.In the case of a cellular telephone, the unique identifier may be anMSISDN, IMSI, MAC address, etc. In the case of a contactless smart card,the unique identifier can be any alphanumeric, hexadecimal, or otherunique string of characters. Client logic 105 on smart vehicle 100, viaan antenna and transceiver, receives the unique identifier from wirelesscommunication device 120 and determines the identity of the driver.

Client logic 105 transmits the unique identifier and location tosettings server 130 via network 140. This transmission may occur viaWIFI, GPRS, or other protocols capable of communicating such informationacross a wide-area network such as the Internet. Settings server 130includes settings for the driver that is associated with the uniqueidentifier transmitted from wireless communication device 120. Thesettings, at least in part, are set by a controlling authority, such asa parent or superior of the driver. The settings may be set by thecontrolling authority through a web browser, by text message, by adedicated application on the authority's wireless communication device,etc. Server logic 132 matches the driver's identity with correspondingsettings from database 134 on settings server 130. The settings mayinclude driver created settings as well as controlling authoritysettings, such as parental controls, based upon the driver's identity.The driver created settings may include seat and mirror positions,programmed radio stations, temperature controls, etc. The controllingauthority settings may include a maximum speed of smart vehicle 100,radio controls, wireless communication device controls, passenger basedcontrols, etc.

The maximum allowed speed of smart vehicle 100 may be set by thecontrolling authority. For instance, a parent may not want his or herchild to drive above seventy miles per hour. The parent uploads thissetting to the settings server using a wireless communication device incommunication with settings server 130 over network 140, using apersonal computer in communication with the settings server 130 overnetwork 140, etc. When smart vehicle 100 determines that the child isdriving, smart vehicle 100 limits the maximum speed that smart vehicle100 will travel. This may be accomplished, for example, by using a speedgovernor on smart vehicle 100. Even if the child attempts to exceed themaximum allowed speed, the speed governor will prevent this action.

Radio controls may also be set by the controlling authority. Thecontrolling authority may set a maximum radio volume, allowed radiostations, prohibited radio stations, prohibited compact discs, etc. Forexample, certain satellite radio stations use language or play songswhich a parent may not wish their child to listen to, especially whiledriving. The parent may prohibit these stations in the settings for thechild. An employer may not want an employee to play loud music whiledriving the company car. The employer may set a maximum volume level foremployees in the settings for each employee, for the smart vehicle, forcertain times, etc.

Wireless communication device controls restrict the actions allowed bythe driver's wireless communication device 120. For example, thedriver's wireless communication device 120 may be prohibited fromaccepting calls or creating text messages while the key is in theignition. Other features of the driver's wireless communication device120 may also be limited. The restrictions may be executed via a“crippling” application installed on the driver's wireless communicationdevice, by editing registry entries of an operating system of thedriver's wireless communication device, by limiting services offered bythe network during the course of driving the smart vehicle (such asdisabling text messages), or by any equivalent means known in the art.

In embodiments of the present invention, the settings may furtherinclude the number of passengers in the smart vehicle or the identitiesof passengers. For instance, the radio control settings or speed controlsettings may be dependent upon the number of passengers or theiridentities. For example, when a young driver has a passenger, thesettings may prevent the radio from being played and may set a maximumspeed of the smart vehicle. When, however, the passenger is the youngdriver's parent, the smart vehicle can identify the parent, much likethe identification of the driver, and remove or alter the settings.

Further settings may be based upon the time of day. The controllingauthority may set a lower maximum permitted speed for certain hours, forinstance, at night. The controlling authority may disable functions ofthe smart vehicle when the smart vehicle should not be in use. Forexample, a parent may limit the function of the smart vehicle duringschool hours so that his or her child is not tempted to skip class anddrive off of school grounds.

In embodiments of the present invention, a notification may be sent tothe controlling authority should the driver attempt to bypass oroverride the settings. This notification may be in the form of a textmessage, e-mail, etc. and may be automatically sent by the smart vehicleor settings server. For example, a text message may be sent to awireless communication device of the controlling authority from thesmart vehicle if the driver attempts to exceed the maximum permittedspeed.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the settings may bestored on the driver's wireless communication device or on the memory ofthe smart vehicle. In these embodiments, the settings may be uploadedfrom the settings server to the driver's wireless communication deviceor the smart vehicle's memory. Alternatively, the settings may bedirectly set or uploaded by a second wireless communication device, suchas that of a parent of the driver. In this alternative embodiment, thesettings server may not be necessary to the system. The driver'swireless communications device would communicate with client logic ofthe smart vehicle and create settings which are stored on the memory ofthe wireless communications device or the smart vehicle. Various othersettings are possible and would be apparent to one of ordinary skill inthe art in light of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a smart vehicle 200, according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention. In this embodiment, smart vehicle 200 is avehicle which includes a central processing unit (CPU) 202, a memory 204storing client logic 205, a transceiver 206, an antenna 208, a driverseat 210, and passenger seats 212. The vehicle can be any car, truck,boat, or aircraft. CPU 202 commands components of smart vehicle 200according to client logic 205 on memory 204. Transceiver 206 allowssmart vehicle 200 to wirelessly communicate with other devices on anetwork, for instance a personal area network within smart vehicle 200,a server on a network, other wireless devices, and so on. Thiscommunication may be through cellular radio frequency (RF) signals,WIFI, BLUETOOTH, infrared (IR), ZIGBEE®, etc. Antenna 208 is atransducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves.

The determination of a driver's identification and the subsequentinitiation of the corresponding settings for the driver are performed bysmart vehicle 200, in this exemplary embodiment, as follows. Transceiver206, via antenna 208, detects the presence of wireless communicationdevices located within smart vehicle 200. At least the driver of smartvehicle 200 carries with them a wireless communication device such as acellular telephone or a contactless smart card. The driver's wirelesscommunication device is able to transmit a unique identifiercorresponding to a user account for the driver. In the case of acellular telephone, the unique identifier may be an MSISDN, IMSI, MACaddress, etc. In the case of a contactless smart card, the uniqueidentifier can be any alphanumeric, hexadecimal, or other unique stringof characters. Using short range wireless communications, such asnear-field communication or BLUETOOTH, antenna 208 transmits a requestfor the unique identifier from the driver's wireless communicationdevices within range of antenna 208. The driver's wireless communicationdevice responds with the unique identifier. Client logic 205 retrievesthe unique identifier from the driver's wireless communication deviceand associates the identifier with a plurality of driver settings. Thesedriver settings may be contained on memory 204, may be contained on anexternal server, may be contained on the driver's wireless communicationdevice, etc.

In many instances, more than one wireless communication device may belocated within smart vehicle 200. The determination of a driver versus apassenger may be determined via a proximity measurement derived fromsignal strength, delay, or other measurements from antenna 208. Forinstance, antenna 208 may be located closer to driver seat 210 thanpassenger seats 212 such that the driver's wireless communication devicehas the strongest communication link to antenna 208, along with theshortest delay. Therefore, a driver is easily determined by placingantenna 208 significantly closer to the driver than any passenger. Thisensures that antenna 208 perceives a measurable difference betweensignals from the driver and signals from a passenger.

As previously stated, the settings may further include the number ofpassengers in the smart vehicle or the identities of passengers. Forinstance, the radio control settings or speed control settings may bedependent upon the number of passengers or their identities. Thus, ifantenna 208 detects wireless communication devices of the passengers,client logic 205 references the settings for the determined number ofpassengers.

FIG. 3 shows a method of controlling a driver's settings on a smartvehicle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.In this embodiment, the method begins with the smart vehiclecommunicating with a driver's device S350. This device may be a wirelesscommunications device, such as a cellular telephone, a contactless smartcard, etc. The communication may occur as the driver enters the smartvehicle, as the driver starts the smart vehicle, etc. The smart vehiclecommunicates with the wireless communication device using short rangewireless communication to request a unique identifier for the driver'swireless communication device. This short range wireless communicationmay be a personal area network, WIFI, BLUETOOTH, NFC, ZIGBEE, etc. Inthe case of a cellular telephone, the unique identifier may be anMSISDN, IMSI, MAC address, etc. In the case of a contactless smart card,the unique identifier can be any alphanumeric, hexadecimal, or otherunique string of characters. The unique identifier is associated with auser of the smart vehicle. With the unique identifier, the smart vehicledetermines the identity of the driver S351. A client logic and processoron the smart vehicle compares the unique identifier with a set of uniqueidentifiers stored on a memory of the smart vehicle. Alternatively, theunique identifier may be compared with a set of unique identifiers on aserver on a network. With the identity of the driver determined, thesmart vehicle looks up settings for the driver S352. These settings mayinclude driver created settings, controlling authority settings, etc.The settings are determined by comparing the driver's identity with adatabase of identities with corresponding settings. This database may beon the network, on the driver's device, on the smart vehicle's memory,etc. With the settings determined for the driver, the smart vehicledetects an attempted change of a setting S353. This may be the driverspeeding up, the radio volume changing, the radio station changing, thedriver's wireless communication device receiving an incoming call ortext, etc. The smart vehicle determines whether the attempted change ofthe setting is permitted S354. This is accomplished by the client logicof the smart vehicle comparing the detected attempted change with thedatabase of permitted or prohibited settings for the driver. If thechange in setting is permitted, the change is allowed S355. Forinstance, the radio volume increases, the radio station changes, thecall is received, the smart vehicle accelerates, etc. If the attemptedsetting is not permitted, the setting is rejected S356. For instance,the radio volume cannot be raised above the permitted setting, the radiostation does not change, the call is not received, the smart vehicledoes not accelerate above the maximum permitted speed, etc.

FIG. 4 shows a smart vehicle 400 with multiple occupants, each with awireless communications device, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. In this embodiment, smart vehicle 400 is carryingthree occupants: a driver, and two passengers. The driver is a user ofdriver's wireless communication device 420, a front seat passenger is auser of wireless communication device 424, and a backseat passenger is auser of wireless communication device 426.

An antenna and transceiver in smart vehicle 400 are used by client logicto determine the number of passengers, based upon the number of wirelesscommunication devices located within smart vehicle 400. For instance,wireless communication devices 420, 424, and 426 are detected and smartvehicle 400 determines there is a driver and two passengers. Smartvehicle 400 identifies the driver using the methods described herein,i.e. by capturing a unique identifier from driver's wirelesscommunication device 420. With multiple devices, smart vehicle 400determines wireless communication device 420 belongs to the driver, aswireless communications device 420 is closest to the antenna locatednear the driver's seat. Smart vehicle 400 references the settings forthe driver from a memory on smart vehicle 400, a database on a network,a memory of wireless communication device 420, etc. For instance, aparent may place restrictions on his or her child based upon the numberof passengers in the vehicle, as higher numbers of passengers tend todistract the driver. With the two passengers in the car, the child maynot be able to listen to the radio, or only listen at a low volume, asthe radio may add another distraction. The speed of smart vehicle 400may be limited in order to prevent the child from trying to drive fast,such as to “impress friends”, etc.

Other restrictions may be placed upon the driver based upon the identityof a passenger. The identity of a passenger may be determined similarlyto that of the driver, by requesting and receiving a device identifier.The identity of the passenger may place further restrictions on thedriver. For instance, if the passenger is the driver's younger sibling,restrictions may be put in place to protect the younger sibling. Thismay include limiting the maximum speed, blocking certain radio stations,etc. If the passenger is a friend, different restrictions may be placedon the driver. These restrictions may be in place to limit distractions.If the passenger is a parent of the driver, restrictions may be takenaway. For instance, restrictions that may usually occur with twopassengers may not take effect if the parent is in the car, asdetermined by the device identifier of the parent's device. As familiesoften share devices, such as cellular phones, biometrics may also beutilized to determine the driver, passenger, etc.

The present invention also allows for several secondary means of driveridentification. One can conceive of situations where an occupant of asmart vehicle is not instantly detectable. For instance, a wirelesscommunication device may be switched off or a battery dies. The wirelesscommunication device may be placed in a purse or bag and put in the backseat, or another part of the smart vehicle, or held by a passenger. Thedevice may be shared by multiple users. This can result in mistakendriver identification. Therefore, embodiments of the smart vehicleinclude a plurality of secondary identification means, includingbiometrics and weight sensors. These backup means for driver andpassenger identification introduce a redundancy to the presentinvention, allowing the settings control system to verify that thecorrect party is determined to be the driver and appropriate settingsare enforced.

FIG. 5 shows secondary means for verifying a driver's identity,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Smartvehicle 500 comes equipped with a CPU 502, a memory 504, a transceiver506, an antenna 508, and a driver seat 510. As described above, CPU 502,based on logic stored on memory 504, controls transceiver 506 to detectthe presence of and unique identifiers from any wireless communicationdevices located within smart vehicle 500. A driver's wirelesscommunication device is identified by its relative proximity to antenna508, which is positioned significantly closer to driver seat 510 thanany other seat in smart vehicle 500.

However, in the case that an identity of a driver cannot be ascertained,smart vehicle 500 includes a plurality of secondary sensors. Theseinclude a biometric identifier 514, for instance, a fingerprint scannerplaced on the steering wheel. A database of drivers' fingerprints isstored on memory 504 or externally on a network, and the detectedfingerprint is associated with a driver's identity. Although this can beused for security purposes (such as starting the smart vehicle,reporting a stolen vehicle, etc.) or for convenience purposes (such asadjusting the seat back/position/mirrors based on the identifieddriver), the present invention uses this biometric identifier toassociate the driver with a user account associated with the driver.Thus, if the driver's wireless communication device is switched off orundetectable, the driver can still be determined and the appropriatesettings put in place.

Smart vehicle 500 further includes a weight scale 516 coupled to driverseat 510. Weight scale 516 determines a weight of a driver. Weight scale516 can include a strain gauge, piezoelectric sensor, etc. The measuredweight serves several purposes including identifying whether or not adriver is present in smart vehicle 500. Using this, a false driveridentification is avoided even if a passenger's wireless communicationdevice is detected to be in proximity of antenna 508. Further, aparticular weight or range of weights can be programmed to correspond tospecified driver profiles, such that smart vehicle 500 is aware whichdriver is driving smart vehicle 500, and thereby transmits theappropriate driver's identity to the settings server or the client logicon memory 504 for determining appropriate settings. Combinations ofthese secondary sensors are possible, and will be apparent to oneskilled in the art in light of this disclosure.

The concept of backup identification can also be applied to thepassengers in the smart vehicle. FIG. 6 shows a smart vehicle 600including biometric sensors, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. In this embodiment, smart vehicle 600 includes anantenna 608, positioned near a driver's seat 610 of smart vehicle 600.Each seat is equipped with a biometric sensor, such as fingerprintreaders 614, and weight scales 616. Biometric sensors are incommunication with a processor and memory (not shown) for determiningthe driver and implementing settings based upon the driver andpassengers.

Secondary sensors 614 and 616 serve to verify an identity of a driverand passengers as described above. Furthermore, weight scales 616 canhelp smart vehicle 600 to determine a number of passengers regardless ofwhether or not the passengers have wireless communication devices.Therefore, the number of passengers can be counted even if no uniqueidentifiers are received by antenna 608. Furthermore, fingerprintreaders 614 provide a verification of the identity of passengers, so asto avoid errors in case a wireless communication device belonging to adriver or a passenger is moved around smart vehicle 600. In someexemplary embodiments weight scales 616 are used merely to determinepassenger presence and not necessarily passenger identity.

The above embodiment disclosed a smart vehicle having an in-dashtransceiver, processor, and memory to control settings of the smartvehicle. However, the present invention allows for the entirefunctionality of the smart vehicle to be incorporated into a singleaftermarket unit that can be used to upgrade any basic vehicle into asmart vehicle. FIGS. 7A and 7B show such an aftermarket smart vehicleupgrade 709, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Upgrade 709 mimics the form factor of traditional in-dashhead units such as CD players or car audio receivers, and includes adisplay 791, a control panel 719, and can also include a disc-reader790. Display 791 is any LCD or equivalent display, control panel 719includes buttons, sliders, etc., and disc reader 790 can play audio anddata discs such as CDs, DVDs, etc. The inner components of upgrade 709include a CPU 702, a memory 704 having client logic 705 stored therein,a transceiver 706, an antenna 708, and a wire harness 792. The functionsof CPU 702, memory 704, transceiver 706, and antenna 708 in theaftermarket unit are substantially similar to the functions of theequivalent components of the smart vehicle, which have been amplydescribed above. Note that the placement of antenna 708 is flexible,thereby allowing a user to configure the upgrade to conform to aparticular vehicle. Antenna 708 has a long wire connecting it to upgrade709 allowing antenna 708 to be placed near the driver's seat insidevehicle.

Wire harness 792 provides an interface to other components of a vehicle.In traditional in-dash head units, wire harnesses 792 provide aninterface to the speakers, amplifiers, fuse boxes, and other electricalsystems of a vehicle. In this embodiment, wire harness 792 can furtherprovide an interface to various sensors within the vehicle, such asspeedometers, external transceivers, biometric/weight sensors embeddedin the seats, etc. Therefore a controlling authority who installsupgrade 709 in their vehicle can program settings directly into upgrade709 via display 791 and control panel 719. Further, disc reader 790 canbe used to program new settings, load databases of settings fordifferent drivers, and other information.

A wireless communication device includes many devices having aprocessor, memory, and transceiver. A contactless smart card includesall of the above, and in some embodiments, can be integrated into anyobject that a driver or passenger carries around all the time. Thus, noextra effort is needed to ensure that the wireless communication deviceis on the user's person at all times. For instance, a contactless smartcard can be embedded in a user's driver's license. Since the driver isrequired by law to carry positive identification at all times whiledriving, a smart vehicle equipped with a contactless smart card readerwill always be able to determine the driver's identity, and thereforeimplement settings for the driver based on his or her identity.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a contactless smart card embedded in a driver'slicense 860, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Driver's license 860 includes embedded within it a CPU 862, amemory 864 having wireless logic 865 stored therein, a transceiver 866and an antenna 868. CPU 862 controls the sending and receiving ofsignals via transceiver 866 based on wireless logic 865 stored on memory864. Antenna 868 receives RF signals from the smart vehicle andtransmits them to transceiver 866. Antenna 868 further acts as aninductor to capture the RF signal from the smart vehicle, rectify it,and thereby power the other components. In an alternative embodiment,the contactless smart card includes a power supply, thereby allowingdriver's license 860 to communicate across greater distances. Memory 864additionally stores a unique identifier for the driver. Upon receivingan RF query from the smart vehicle, logic 865 retrieves the storedunique identifier and transmits it to the smart vehicle via transceiver866.

FIG. 9 shows a smart vehicle 900 detecting a driver's license 960,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Driver'slicense 960, including wireless logic 965, is in communication with anantenna 908 of smart vehicle 900. Client logic 905 onboard smart vehicle900 enables antenna 908 to transmit an RF query within smart vehicle900. The RF query is sensed by an antenna of driver's license 960.Wireless logic 965, in response, transmits a unique identifiercorresponding to the driver's identity back to client logic 905. Asdescribed in the embodiments above, client logic 905 determines that theunique identifier corresponds to a driver's identity, depending on theplacement of antennas 908, and the strength and/or latency of thereceived signal. Upon a determination of the driver's identity, thisinformation can be transmitted to a settings server to implementsettings for the driver.

FIG. 10 shows a call block notification 1070 transmitted to a wirelesscommunication device 1020, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. In this embodiment, wireless communication device1020 belongs to the driver of a smart vehicle who has restrictionsplaced upon them while driving such that the driver cannot receivetelephone calls. Call block notification 1070 notifies the driver that acall is incoming, but cannot be received. Wireless communication device1020 includes a screen 1027 and a keypad 1025. Screen 1027 displays callblock notification 1070, notifying the driver that the driver cannotreceive calls while driving. The driver may, however, be given theoption to automatically reply to the incoming call to notify the callerthat the driver cannot take the call. To accomplish this, call blocknotification 1070 includes a “Yes” button 1071 and a “No” button 1072.Selecting “Yes” button 1071 confirms that the driver wishes to reply tothe caller. Selecting “No” button 1072 confirms that the driver does notwish to reply to the caller. Keypad 1025 allows the driver to input anacceptance or denial of the reply, but may be locked to prevent thedriver from being otherwise distracted. A similar notification can besent to wireless communication device 1020 in the event of an incomingtext, etc.

FIG. 11 shows a screenshot of the creation of settings for a driver,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thesettings may be created on a wireless communications device incommunication with a network, on a personal computer in communicationwith the network through a web portal, on a screen in a vehicle, etc. Inthis embodiment, the settings are in the form of parental controls 1180.Parental controls 1180 includes a number of passengers entry 1181, amaximum speed entry 1182, a maximum radio volume entry 1183, a stationblock selection 1184, a call restriction option 1185, and a text messagerestriction option 1186. A parent or other controlling authority may useparental controls 1180 in order to control settings of a smart vehiclefor certain drivers. Number of passengers entry 1181 allows the parentto choose a number of passengers to create settings for. In thisinstance, the parent is creating settings that will occur when thespecified driver has two passengers. The parent has checked the box ofmaximum speed entry 1182 and entered a maximum speed of seventy-fivemiles per hour for the driver. Thus, when the settings are in place andtwo passengers are present, if the driver attempts to exceedseventy-five miles per hour, a speed governor on the smart vehiclerestricts these attempts. The parent has checked the box of maximumradio volume 1183 and has entered a maximum volume of fifteen. Thismaximum volume may be decibels, a volume unit on the radio, etc. Withthis setting in place, the driver is not able to play the radio at avolume in excess of the set limit when two passengers are present. Theparent has the option of blocking certain radio stations with stationblock selection 1184. Station block selection 1184 may present theparent with local radio stations available in the area, satellite radiostations, etc. The parent may select stations from a list, enterstations manually, etc. With these settings in place when two passengersare present, the smart vehicle will not allow the radio to be changed tothese stations. Call restriction option 1185 prevents the driver fromreceiving calls on the driver's wireless communication device whiledriving. Text message restriction option 1186 prevents the driver fromcreating text messages on the driver's wireless communication devicewhile driving. As previously stated, call restriction option 1185 andtext message option 1186 may be executed via a “crippling” applicationinstalled on the driver's wireless communication device, by editingregistry entries of an operating system of the driver's wirelesscommunication device, by limiting services offered by the network duringthe course of driving the smart vehicle (such as disabling textmessages), or by any equivalent means known in the art.

The foregoing disclosure of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations andmodifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. Thescope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appendedhereto, and by their equivalents.

Further, in describing representative embodiments of the presentinvention, the specification may have presented the method and/orprocess of the present invention as a particular sequence of steps.However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on theparticular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process shouldnot be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one ofordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps maybe possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth inthe specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims.In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of thepresent invention should not be limited to the performance of theirsteps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readilyappreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A settings control system comprising: aprocessor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor to perform operations comprisingreceiving a unique identifier associated with a first wirelesscommunication device of a first user and a unique identifier associatedwith a second wireless communication device of a second user,determining that the first user is a driver of a vehicle based, at leastin part, on a difference between a signal received from the firstwireless communication device of the first user and a signal receivedfrom the second wireless communication device of the second user,transmitting, to a server via a network, the unique identifierassociated with the first wireless communication device of the firstuser determined to be the driver of the vehicle, receiving, from theserver via the network, in response to transmitting the uniqueidentifier associated with the first wireless communication device ofthe first user determined to be the driver of the vehicle to the server,a setting corresponding to the unique identifier associated with thefirst wireless communication device of the first user determined to bethe driver of the vehicle, wherein the setting is for controlling afunction of the vehicle when the first user is determined to be thedriver of the vehicle, and implementing the setting, whereinimplementation of the setting controls the function of the vehicle. 2.The settings control system of claim 1, further comprising an antennalocated proximate to a driver seat of the vehicle, wherein thedifference between the signal received from the first wirelesscommunication device of the first user and the signal received from thesecond wireless communication device of the second user is based, atleast in part, on a proximity of the first wireless communication deviceof the first user to the antenna located proximate to the driver seat.3. The settings control system of claim 2, further comprising asecondary sensor, wherein the operations further comprise verifying thatthe first user is the driver based on output received from the secondarysensor of the vehicle.
 4. The settings control system of claim 1,wherein the setting comprises a radio control and wherein implementationof the setting causes at least one of a maximum radio volume of a radioof the vehicle to be set, allowed radio stations to be set, or compactdiscs prohibited from being played by the radio of the vehicle to beset.
 5. The settings control system of claim 1, wherein the settingcomprises a permitted speed setting and wherein implementation of thesetting causes a maximum allowed speed of the vehicle to be set.
 6. Thesettings control system of claim 1, wherein the setting comprises awireless communication device control and wherein implementation of thesetting causes prohibition of acceptance of communications received viathe first wireless communication device.
 7. The settings control systemof claim 1, wherein the setting is dependent on a number of passengersin the vehicle.
 8. The settings control system of claim 1, wherein thefirst wireless communication device is a contactless smart card.
 9. Amethod comprising: receiving, at a settings control system comprising aprocessor, a unique identifier associated with a first wirelesscommunication device of a first user and a unique identifier associatedwith a second wireless communication device of a second user;determining, by the settings control system, that the first user is adriver of a vehicle based, at least in part, on a difference between asignal received from the first wireless communication device of thefirst user and a signal received from the second wireless communicationdevice of the second user; transmitting, by the settings control systemto a server via a network, the unique identifier associated with thefirst wireless communication device of the first user determined to bethe driver of the vehicle; receiving, at the settings control system,from the server via the network, in response to transmitting the uniqueidentifier associated with the first wireless communication device ofthe first user determined to be the driver of the vehicle to the server,a setting corresponding to the unique identifier associated with thefirst wireless communication device of the first user determined to bethe driver of the vehicle, wherein the setting is for controlling afunction of the vehicle when the first user is determined to be thedriver of the vehicle; and implementing, by the settings control system,the setting, wherein implementation of the setting controls the functionof the vehicle.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the differencebetween the signal received from the first wireless communication deviceof the first user and the signal received from the second wirelesscommunication device of the second user is based, at least in part, on aproximity of the first wireless communication device of the first userto an antenna located proximate to a driver seat of the vehicle.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising verifying that the first user isthe driver based on output received from a secondary sensor of thevehicle.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the setting comprises aradio control and wherein implementation of the setting causes at leastone of a maximum radio volume of a radio of the vehicle to be set,allowed radio stations to be set, or compact discs prohibited from beingplayed by the radio of the vehicle to be set.
 13. The method of claim 9,wherein the setting comprises a permitted speed setting and whereinimplementation of the setting causes a maximum allowed speed of thevehicle to be set.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the settingcomprises a wireless communication device control and whereinimplementation of the setting causes prohibition of acceptance ofcommunications received via the first wireless communication device. 15.The method of claim 9, wherein the setting is dependent on a number ofpassengers in the vehicle.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the firstwireless communication device is a contactless smart card.
 17. Acomputer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by aprocessor of a settings control system, cause the processor to performoperations comprising: receiving a unique identifier associated with afirst wireless communication device of a first user and a uniqueidentifier associated with a second wireless communication device of asecond user; determining that the first user is a driver of a vehiclebased, at least in part, on a difference between a signal received fromthe first wireless communication device of the first user and a signalreceived from the second wireless communication device of the seconduser; transmitting, to a server via a network, the unique identifierassociated with the first wireless communication device of the firstuser determined to be the driver of the vehicle; receiving, from theserver via the network, in response to transmitting the uniqueidentifier associated with the first wireless communication device ofthe first user determined to be the driver of the vehicle to the server,a setting corresponding to the unique identifier associated with thefirst wireless communication device of the first user, wherein thesetting is for controlling a function of the vehicle when the first useris determined to be the driver of the vehicle; and implementing thesetting, wherein implementation of the setting controls the function ofthe vehicle.
 18. The computer-readable memory of claim 17, wherein thedifference between the signal received from the first wirelesscommunication device of the first user and the signal received from thesecond wireless communication device of the second user is based, atleast in part, on a proximity of the first wireless communication deviceof the first user to an antenna located proximate to a driver seat ofthe vehicle.
 19. The computer-readable memory of claim 18, wherein theoperations further comprise verifying that the first user is the driverbased on output received from a secondary sensor of the vehicle.
 20. Thecomputer-readable memory of claim 17, wherein the setting is dependenton a number of passengers in the vehicle.